diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index 2bdcb3c45c..ab1568c80b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ void APIServer::loop() {
         client->on_fatal_error();
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "%s: Network unavailable; disconnecting", client->get_client_combined_info().c_str());
       }
-      return;  // All clients will be marked for removal, cleanup will happen next loop
+      // Continue to process and clean up the clients below
     }
 
     size_t client_index = 0;